Marilyn J. Westerkamp

Marilyn J. Westerkamp presents her extensive research on Anne Hutchinson's influence in a Puritan culture in a well-documented narrative designed for a mostly academic audience. She discusses the Puritan culture and how they treated all manner of dissidents--from Quakers to Anne herself. The book discusses the migration of many of these persons to Rhode Island and even back to England. The book depicts Hutchinson as a woman with a message from God and a great following who threatened the Puritan leadership, resulting in her being labeled heretical. The author does not believe she qualifies as an early feminist.

I found the book fascinating for many reasons but perhaps my happiest moment came when an ancestor Stephen Bachiler received a paragraph of treatment. (She spells it Batchelor; it is also often spelled Batchelder.) Her wording made me feel she did not realize the church at Lynn was formerly the Saugus church as she listed them separately. I expected she might mention the belief he stood up for Hutchinson in her trial, but it was never discussed either to confirm or repudiate the claim made by other researchers. (I must confess that researching her trial transcripts to find evidence for the claim remains on my to do list.) I realize this is a minor quibble as the passage demonstrated other pastors who differed from the Puritan mainstream rather than showing my ancestor's interaction with Hutchinson.

Persons interested in Hutchinson, colonial women, Puritans, early New England, New England Quakers, and American religious history should read this book. I received an advance electronic review copy, but I intend to purchase my own copy upon publication.… (altro)